Teacher Kicked out of Tory Party for Christian Views on Homosexuality Issued ‘Warning’ by School

[In Paisley Scotland, a] teacher who was kicked out of David Cameron’s Conservative party for his unwillingness to go along with the homosexualist agenda will not be sacked for his views, a disciplinary committee has decided.

The Renfrewshire Council, which runs the Rashielea Primary School, had suspended Philip Lardner over his remarks but decided to issue only a written warning, a decision Lardner says he will appeal.

Lardner told the Christian Institute, “If I don’t challenge this, other teachers will never be able to voice personal opinions in the future.”

A primary teacher at the school, Lardner was dropped as a candidate for the Tories just nine days before the May 6th general election after writing on his website that homosexuality was not something that should be privileged by the state. Homosexual behavior, he wrote, is “not normal” and should not be promoted to school children. After being deselected from the Tory candidacy, Lardner stood as an independent candidate.

Lardner later told LifeSiteNews.com that he had no interest in retracting his statements in order to curry favor with the new Tory leadership. “The vast majority of my local membership of the Tory party have been resolute on support for my opinion,” he said. Asked if he expected to suffer repercussions for his views with his employers, Lardner, who had already been placed on “cautionary suspension,” said that he was unafraid.

At an August 1st meeting of the Freedom Association, a libertarian lobby group, Lardner was defended by Roger Helmer, a Member of the European Parliament. Helmer expanded his comments on his blog, writing that Lardner came across in the comments as a “a reasonable, careful man, falling over himself to be courteous and respectful – indeed, almost apologetic.”

Lardner’s position, Helmer said, “is a traditional view with which many Christians (and most Muslims), and indeed many citizens of no particular religion, but of a broadly conservative turn of mind, would agree”.

Helmer blasted the Tories for their action saying the party had been merely “desperate to appease the strident homosexual zealots in the run-up to the election.” Helmer pointed out that even under the articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, mandating freedom of religious expression and “right to a private life,” Lardner’s remarks are “clearly protected”.

“But the Conservative Party, despite its new-found enthusiasm for all things European … was not prepared to respect them.”

The offending piece on Lardner’s website read, “I will always support the rights of homosexuals to be treated within concepts of (common sense) equality and respect, and defend their rights to choose to live the way they want in private, but I will not accept that their behaviour is ‘normal’ or encourage children to indulge in it.

“The promotion of homosexuality by public bodies … was correctly outlawed by Mrs. Thatcher’s government. Toleration and understanding is one thing, but state-promotion of homosexuality is quite another. Why should Christian churches be forced by the Government to employ homosexuals as ‘ministers’ against all that the bible teaches? They are being forced by the Government to betray their mission…”

He said that Christians, who make up the majority of the British population, believe that homosexuality is “somewhere between ‘unfortunate’ and simply ‘wrong’” and “should not be penalised for politely saying so”.

“The current ‘law’ is wrong and must be overturned in the interests of freedom as well as Christian values.”

Helmer wrote, “It seems that these days our expectation not to be offended takes precedence over the basic human right to free speech”.

Lardner told LSN that he believes David Cameron “must make clear whether or not he wants Christians to vote for the Conservative party.”

“By suspending me, he has effectively said there is no place for Christians in the party. Does he or does he not want the vote of Christians who share my views?” he asked.

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